Chapter 1: Escape
Kagome looked around her room, and saw the maids all busy; laying out her morning clothes, preparing her make up, and remaking her bed; silken sheets glittering in the morning light.
Kagome took it as her chance.
With silent steps, she walked over to her window, and quickly looked out it- eyes hungry and grasping. The sight below her took her breath away. It always did….. A stream flowed softly beneath her window, orange and yellow carp playing in its silver waters. Flowers of every color lined its banks, bright smooth rocks gleaming out among the rainbow of petals. Kagome knew if she could stare long enough at the stream, eventually gardeners would come out and tend to the flowers; because beauty such as they did not happen naturally in the palace… Beyond the stream, was the forest.
The beautiful dark forest full of charm and mystery. It captured Kagome's heart every time she looked at it.. Cedars so tall their tips seemed to brush the gray clouds, grew thick across the hills; a deep green of fur. Then beyond the trees, were the mountains. Gaint mountains dressed in clothes of green and in shawls of gossamer mist. They stood so tall, and beautiful- silent protectors of their kingdom. Of her father's kingdom.
The air was thick and heavy, and warm hand upon her cheek as she leaned farther out her window. She felt the water on her hair and skin, and in her lungs as she breathed. Oh- how Kagome wished she could just leap out, and let the world embrace her like a lost daughter!! But it could not be.
"Lady Kagome!" she heard shouted behind her, and she rolled her eyes. Well, they were bound to notice eventually…-she thought, and let careful hands take her arms and lead her away from the window like a tethered horse.
She sighed, and felt a bit triumphant that she had been able to steal another look at the outside… "Lady Kagome, you know you are not allowed to look out your window!" a maid chattered in her ear, and pushed her down onto a cushioned chair. "Somebody could see you! It is forbidden for peasants to gaze upon your beauty."
Kagome sighed, and let them strip of her of her night garments. She did not shiver as the air met her unclad body. It was warm and damp, almost like another set of clothes to her skin. "If I'm not allowed to look out windows, than why is there one in my room? Besides- no one's even out there!!" she snapped at them, and felt the conversation slipping back into the age old familiar argument. Kagome would protest it was stupid for there to be a window, right next to her bed, when it was such a crime to peer out of it. Was it simply there to tempt her? To get her into trouble? The blasted thing should be boarded over if was such a taboo. Then the maids would respond that the Lord wanted it there, and that Kagome must simply contain herself and resist- showing the strength that was required of princesses.
Kagome bit her lip, and held back the words that were hot on her tongue, and deigned to simply remain quiet. She didn't feel like going into another argument that she couldn't win. The maids slipped on her pants, a soft silk, and then a kimono of salmon pink over her chest. Over that, came a brocade kimono of spring green with yellow blossoms, and then- an obi of milky blue with a golden cord and pink tassels at her waist. Kagome held still as was required of her, as the maids combed through her river of gleaming black hair. When they were done, they piled it all on top of her head and wove it tightly into an intricate masterpiece. A jade comb with a white lotus was positioned fashionably in her hair, titled to one side as if by accident. Other ornaments were added, such as glass butterflies and birds- and Kagome sighed as she looked at herself in her almost opaque mirror.
She was nothing to her father. Just a pretty decoration to parade around like some doll. That was why she was kept locked away in his palace, seen only by him and their servants- hidden away from the rest of the world. Others were forbidden so see her, and she was forbidden to see them.
Only princes with many coffers full of gold and silver and jade were every permitted to gaze upon her 'magnificence'. Kagome wanted desperately to sag in self pity, but could not for her maids would surely scold her. Her back was to remain stick straight. Poor posture was strictly not allowed in a princess.
It seems as if it is my destiny- Kagome thought bitterly- to be a pawn in my father's plans, until my beauty fades and I am tossed aside like garbage.
She flicked her blue irises to the corners of her eyes, straining to see the window that held everything of her dreams. Tears almost leaked from her tips in her effort, but it was useless. The window was behind her, and unless she grew eyes in the back of her head- she would never see it.
A maid flicked her nose warningly, and Kagome looked back to her mirror. Make up was now being added to her face, pale from lack of spending time in the blessed sun. The snow white powder made her look almost sickly pale, and Kagome wanted to rub it all away. But it was the fashion at the palace, and the princess must set the example. Rouge was added to her lips, making them a startling red against the her rest of her face, and then Kagome was done. Done up enough the morning, anyway. More would be added to her elaborate costume as the day wore on…
"You father requests your presence to break the morning fast my Lady," a maid said, and Kagome nodded dully. She had tried refusing her father for breakfast once, and had had all her maids taken away for a whole week. It might not seem like such a punishment to those of lesser standing- but Kagome could do almost nothing by herself. Not even make her bed.
It disgusted her, how absolutely dependent she was on the annoying ladies that buzzed around her day and night. But, she was helpless without their aid..
It's his fault- her mind whispered, as Kagome was helped to stand. Thick cotton tabi socks were slipped onto her dainty feet, and wooden shoes with silken cords were slipped on after them. If he hadn't treated me like some possession since the day I was born, I could probably function just as well as the girls in those villages do!!
She glanced once more at her room, at the forbidden window- before she was led out, and towards her father residing in a different section of the palace entirely…. Kagome always hated how far away he lived- as if he weren't even related to her. She sighed, and began another day- a day almost identical to thousands of days before...
Will something ever exciting ever happen to me? Kagome sighed silently, and tried not to slip into the always present depression. Will I ever escape this prison of my life?...
Three days past, night covering the sky in a thick blanket of black; Kagome lay awake on her futon. She could not sleep.. Eagerness and fear alike burned brightly in her belly, and sweat covered her brow. Tonight, that night- Kagome had planned, was the night she would make her escape.
She sat up slowly among her ocean of silk covers, and clenched her stomach. She groaned, and one of the two maids that were stationed in her room came to her side. "What is wrong my Lady?" she whispered softly to her, lying a light hand on her back.
Kagome clenched her teeth and eyes shut in a faked pain, and groaned again; louder this time. "My stomach!" she breathed, and curled in on herself. "Please, my stomach!" The maid appeared terribly frightened in the dark, eyes wide like a scared calf's, and sprinted out of the room.
Kagome let down her act when she heard the maid's hurried footsteps fade away down the lacquered hallway. She got up from her bed, and held still as the other maid rushed to undress her. Once Kagome had been stripped, brown hakama were fastened around her legs, and a scratchy equally brown kimono was tied around her chest. A simple sash was wrapped around her waist, and the maid smudged dirt and grim over her milky cheeks. Then, came her hair. The maid piled it all messily on top of her head, as the others normally did- and tied a blanket around it to hide it from sight and keep it out of her face.
Then the maid was still, and grabbed Kagome's shoulders. "There, it is done my Lady," she whispered. Kagome nodded, and embraced the woman- holding her tightly to her body. "Thankyou for everything, Sachiko. I couldn't have done this with out you," she said thickly in her ear, before pulling away.
The maid, the only one she trusted and cared for, wiped at her wrinkled cheek as a tear slipped down them. "Promise me you will be careful, my Lady," she said, and Kagome nodded, and smiled wanly. "I will."
They both simply looked at each other, before Kagome grabbed a cloak Sachiko had smuggled in along with the peasant clothes she now wore, and flung it over her shoulders. The maid rushed to the window- and grabbed a rope from under the futon. She had hidden it there only yesterday... She threw one end out the window, and fed it until the dry tip brushed the ground. Then, she tied it to the window sill, and turned to Kagome.
Kagome hugged the maid once more, before she crawled out the window- rope gripped tightly in her hands. "Be safe, my Lady!!" the woman whispered, but Kagome was already wriggling down the rope- excitement red in her cheeks.
Freedom!! Finally, Kagome- was free!!!
"Not yet, you aren't. You still have to make it out of here," she whispered to herself, and focused on reaching the ground. But, it was a task more difficult than she had thought. Her arms were weak, for she had never used them for work in her entire sixteen years of life- and the rope burned her soft hands as she gripped it. It bit into her palms, and skinned them pink.
But, Kagome shut out the pain. Out. She had to get out. She couldn't bare her life anymore. This was her only chance at a better one. So she hoped…
And, if her father caught her……..- Kagome shivered, and pushed the thought out of her mind. No. She would not think of if's; they would only distract her.
Minute after excruciating minute, Kagome inched herself down the rope- but the ground never seemed to come any closer. She had forgotten how high of the ground her window had been…. Kagome bit her lip in frustration, and decided to let herself slide down. It would be much quicker, and time was of the essence. Her hands loosened their death grip, and she dropped like a stone the rest of the way. She bit back a scream, as the ground hit her suddenly like a brick wall. It jarred her feet- and pain seared its way up her legs.
Kagome bit her lip harder, drawing blood, and rolled to her knees.
A commotion above her forced her face upwards. She could hear the footsteps of a maid returning. Kagome had to hide. She prayed that Sachiko would be safe. They had planned, that after Kagome had escaped- she would lie down on the floor and pretend to be knocked out. Then, when the maid returned, she would spin the story of Kagome hitting her, and then everything going black..
Kagome crawled to the nearest bush, and dove into it. She remembered, distantly, how the bush would look from her room, dark leaves with silver lining their edges. They had been so beautiful…..
Kagome shook her head, some of her hair working loose from her blanket to stick damply to her cheek. She heard shouting, and scuffling above her, and knew that in minutes the whole palace would be alert to her disappearance.
She had to act- now.
Kagome got to her feet, legs aching in protest, and began running. Her heart beat so loudly in her ears she could hardly hear her own footsteps. Her mouth was dry with fright, but her mind remained sharp.
Concentrate, Kagome- she chided herself, and tried not to let fear consume her- concentrate…
Kagome thanked all the gods as she ran, that the moon was full that night- helping her not to stumble and fall over her own feet. She bounded like a stag, running faster than she had thought possible, over stones and flowers- the forest getting closer every step.
Hope rose bright in her chest. There! She was almost there!! When she reached the forest, they would not be able to see her, and then- she could explore it as she had always dreamed of doing….
Kagome heard more shouting behind her, beneath the din of her heart, and dogs barking. Kagome felt her strides quicken, and soon her chest was burning with the exertion.
She could not let them find her!! She absolutely not let them catch her!!! She made a quick mental note of wading through a stream when ever she next found one, to throw the dogs off her scent.. She hoped desperately, though, that they wouldn't…
Her vision dimmed, and Kagome cursed the forest for being so far away. It had looked so close from her window!- only a stone's throw away! What an illusion… Roots and leaves and stems all reached up at Kagome's feet as she ran, trying to trip her. Thorns she had not known existed pricked at her ankles, and she whimpered in pain.
Pain, pain, pain. There was so much of it! The burning in her chest and legs, the cuts on her feet- when would it end?
At long last, Kagome reached a tree. She tripped, and fell- narrowly avoiding from landing on her face by flinging out her hands at the last second. She rolled on the damp ground, soil and grass thick with dew, and propped herself behind the cedar. It was a small one, nothing compared to its brothers that were packed together only a distance away- but it would do. Kagome could hide her entire heaving frame behind it- and that was all she needed.
After a couple hungry breaths, she quieted her lungs and heart- and listened.
She heard on soldiers running behind her. No dogs, no people- nobody. They had not seen her- they did not know where she was, or where she was going!!!
Relief poured through Kagome's body, and she slumped against the tree..
Safe. She was safe. Safe- from the palace anyway… Kagome had no idea, what lie in wait for her in the forest… But, she would think of it later.
Kagome closed her eyes, sweat dribbling down her eyelids and cheeks. Her body trembled, and she thought to never move again… Crickets chirped in beautiful song all around her, and even the stars above seemed to add their part- tinkling like bells in the dark velvet sky..
After a couple moments of sleep, Kagome opened her eyes. Her limbs felt as if they were made of stone, but at least her heart and lungs were back to their normal pace.. Dragging her body to its feet, teeth clenched in agony, she leant against the tree behind her.
Then, the whole world was silent- as Kagome stepped away from the cedar- and began her journey into the forest..
All righty, first chappie up!! I'm thinkin' this story will only be a couple chapters long. Oh, and I really don't have a good idea how princesses were dressed back then in ancient Japan (Nippon). But, in my story- this is how it happens. Hope it's all right with you.. ;3 PLEAZE REVEIW GUYS!! I really would like to continue this!!!
-Kirin
